Sutter-Yuba County Biographies
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
PRICE BLACKFORD
A prominent rancher who worthily represents both the spirit and the
attainment of Yuba County, an ideal section for the progressive farmer, is Price
Blackford, who was born at Grass Valley, July 11, 1855, a son of John and Mariah
(Barrie) Blackford, natives of Pennsylvania and Illinois, respectively. John
Blackford first came to California across the plains in 1849. He went back
East, and returned the second time in 1852 and settled in Grass Valley, where he
conducted a hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Blackford were blessed with four children:
John, who died in the East; Price, the subject of this sketch; Susie; and
Minnie, deceased. John Blackford, Sr., passed away when he was sixty-eight
years old and his wife when she was sixty-seven years of age.
Price Blackford was educated in the Grass Valley school. He started
out to work when he was fifteen years old, and was employed on dairy farms at
ranching and cattle-raising. About 1875 he came to Yuba County and went into
sheep-raising and stock-farming. He first bought 480 acres, and then purchased
the Frazier ranch, consisting of 1072 acres; and later he purchased a tract of
about ninety-three acres, which makes his entire holdings about 1645 acres, all
located in the vicinity of Wheatland. For nine years he was in the sheep
business by himself, and for twenty years was a partner with his brother-in-law,
Joseph Hartley. They leased the old Webster ranch and ran their sheep on it.
Today, he has bout 1600 head of sheep on his ranch. Mr. Blackford is a member
of the California Wool Growers� Association.
At Indian Springs, Nevada County, Cal., Price Blackford was united
in marriage with Martha M. Hartley, who was born on Deer Creek, in Nevada
County, the daughter of William and Mary Hartley. Martha Hartley was reared and
educated in Nevada County. Their union has been blessed with three children:
Helen, Mrs. Waltz of Wheatland; Robert, in Wheatland; and Harold, who resides at
home. Mr. Blackford is a stanch Republican. He is a member of Nicolaus Lodge
NO. 129, F.& A.M., at Wheatland; and Mrs. Blackford is a Past Worthy Matron of
the Eastern Star at Wheatland.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 433-434